Photos: Hong Kong, 20 years after the handover

Jul 01, 2017 14:28 IST

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The Chinese flag is raised by People's Liberation Army soldiers to signal Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty after 156 years of British rule. Hong Kong is marking 20 years since the territory was handed from Britain to China, bringing an end to more than 150 years of colonial rule. (Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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Negotiations over the future of Hong Kong took years before a treaty was signed in 1984 to return the territory at midnight on June 30, 1997. More than 4,000 PLA troops crossed the border into Hong Kong. (Bobby Yip / Reuters)

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The Chinese flag was raised over the city on 1 July, 1997, Hong Kong was not entirely integrated with the rest of mainland China. It maintained many institutions established during colonial rule. (Bobby Yip / Reuters)

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The territory has seen tumultuous times since July 1, 1997, with economic turmoil, outbreaks of disease and more recently, pro-democracy protests casting shadows over the city, its stunning harbour and the New Territories up to the border with the mainland. (Tyrone Siu / Reuters)

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Chinese authorities and local officials insist Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status is intact, but have railed against calls for self-determination or independence. (Bobby Yip / Reuters)

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At the handover ceremony 20 years ago, Prince Charles and the then-prime minister Tony Blair travelled to the city to mark the transfer of sovereignty. (Paul Yeung /Reuters)

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Since the return to China there are now concerns Beijing is trampling the agreement by interfering in a range of areas, from politics to education and media. (Bobby Yip /Reuters)

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In the past few years, a small but vocal group of mostly young people have began advocating for Hong Kong to become independent, a movement that was non-existent 20 years ago. (Bobby Yip / Reuters )